26At that, the evil spirit screamed and threw the man into a convulsion, but then he left him.

27Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. "What sort of new teaching is this?" they asked excitedly. "It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!"

28The news of what he had done spread quickly through that entire area of Galilee.

29After Jesus and his disciples left the synagogue, they went over to Simon and Andrew’s home, and James and John were with them.

30Simon’s mother–in–law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away.

31He went to her bedside, and as he took her by the hand and helped her to sit up, the fever suddenly left, and she got up and prepared a meal for them.

32That evening at sunset, many sick and demon–possessed people were brought to Jesus.

33And a huge crowd of people from all over Capernaum gathered outside the door to watch.

34So Jesus healed great numbers of sick people who had many different kinds of diseases, and he ordered many demons to come out of their victims. But because they knew who he was, he refused to allow the demons to speak.

35The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.

44"Go right over to the priest and let him examine you. Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy, so everyone will have proof of your healing."

45But as the man went on his way, he spread the news, telling everyone what had happened to him. As a result, such crowds soon surrounded Jesus that he couldn’t enter a town anywhere publicly. He had to stay out in the secluded places, and people from everywhere came to him there.